Last weekend in NC (as of now)

Welp.. its here and i cant believe it. This past weekend was officially my last weekend in Raleigh. We have 2 more weeks of teaching, but next weekend Jay and I are going home to visit my sis Ky. I cannot believe how fast this journey has been going. It's somewhat bittersweet for me. I love it here and have had the time of my life, however i miss Luke and being home.

Friday night we were so excited because we thought we got invited to a "college party". We have not been to one in forever.. but it ended up being a bunch of guys at their parents rich house playing pong with apples..def not the college scene we had in mind.. haha. So we left and headed downtown to 606. It was not the best night out but it was still fun. We were all so tired from the week.

all in black & white :)

leaving the "college party"/rich house

@ 606.

Saturday at the last minute we decided to go to the Tim Mcgraw concert. I mean he's sexy.. why not ;) I just currently (past 2 years) started listening to country.. so i only knew a few of his songs. So for the concert we wanted to look for cowboy boots.. so we hit up this Mexican Flea market.. haha it was fun! SOO many boots but so expensive ($150).. wasnt paying that when i would hardly wear them and also i have a cute pair back in pa.... why i forgot them.. i donno. So we struck out.. but went to the concert anyways. It was fun! Met some boys from the Marines.. who recently got back... They were a trip haha. For only knowing a few songs.. it was a great time. Cant believe i've been to 3 country concerts in 1 month haha. Fun times :] We were planning on going downtown afterwards.. but it never works out that way.

beer pong losers haha

waiting in line :]

Jay looking all country!

told you the marines were a trip...he got
kicked out shorty after this haha.

there he is.. the sexy man ;)

Today will consist of applying to more jobs....i dont know if it will EVER pay off.. about 100 apps deep and no call....cleaning up the apartment....working on my POET presentation for Tuesday.. sounds fun.. haha not!

Lyss :)

Charlotte Weekend!

Charlotte was so much fun! We arrived to Kaysee's house late friday. We had a total girls night. We ate ice cream and watched a movie! hehe. Saturday we went shopping at the biggest best mall ever - Concord Mills aka. HEAVEN! Bought 2 dresses and shoes, ate some dinner and had a total blast! We then headed to uptown Charlotte to our hotel. Got ready did some pre-gaming and hit up the bars! We actually only went to one... it was called Whiskey River. Had a total blast and just loving NC more and more every day! Here are some pics of our night out:

all dressed up!

at the bar:)

riding the bull!

our place of choice!

love these girls!!

great place to be :]

end of the night pose.

We had so much fun! Now its time for another full week of my 2nd graders! Only 3 weeks to go until this journey is over. Im excited to see whats in store for me:)

lyss :)

Lakes and a Concert = Successful Weekend

This weekend was FABULOUS! I was well rested because i only had to teach 3 out of 5 days :) So i was ready to have a great time. Friday night we just went down town to our normal spots. First hitting up Natty Greens then ending at Lucky B's. I was actually tired and didnt mind going home a little earlier than normal. Saturday was full of non-stop fun. First we hit up Tucker Lake with some great people. We always see it from the highway on the way to the beach and it looks so fun. It has a place to cook burgers and yummy cookout food! It is a huge lake with slides, rope swings, paddle boats, floaties, etc. There were 6 of us and we had a blast! I thought i was 6 again :) We then quickly went home got ready and headed to the Toby Keith concert. The tailgate was ahh okayy..i didn't know too many people and was to hot to mingle, but for not knowing many songs he put on one heck of a concert :) Sunday we wrapped up the weekend by going out to Jordan Lake on a boat :) We went out a few miles, anchored the boat jumped in the water and floated around! Nice and relaxing! Some pics of the weekend:

brain and his yummy food

the swingy thing

the group :)

on the boat!

Kylie and the boys made it to the US safely! This will be my first 5 day work week in two weeks.. its going to rough! haha. I am excited to learn about my 2nd graders. Only 4 more weeks of student teaching... its going so fast... yet slow when i miss lukey :[

Lyss :)

A day off :]

Rambling on my day off.

HAPPY 6 YEARS TO MY BEEBS :] I FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU MORE AND MORE WITH EVERY PASSING YEAR!!! I KNOW THAT WE CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING THAT IS THROWN OUR WAY!


I am officially applying to schools in Wake County and Charlotte area! I have probably applied to 50+ positions. (most of the positions have 100+ apps already :-/) No worries if it is meant to be it will happen! So I am excited to see if anything comes out of it! If not i am moving back home with my mama! [haha-not that exciting]

I am officially done with my portfolio! I am turning it in this evening and boy does it feel good. This thing has been haunting my life for years now.. and im finally giving it the boot! haha

The Bachelorette on Monday was intense! Wow Vienna is right Jake is a fame whore and Jake is right Vienna never shuts up. It is what it is. They were never meant to last, so they need to move on with their lives :)

I am addicted to pretty little liars (no lie).

I am relaxing and applying to jobs on my day off. Tomorrow we are setting up the classroom and Friday the new school year begins! How lucky am i to see the opening and closing of a school year!

Safe travels to Ky to the US! I am so bummed i will not be getting to see you this summer. I am actually still in denial :[

Lyss

4th of July Weekend in NC :)

This weekend was AMAZING! Except for the part where I got sick. Yes of all weekends I get sick the time Lukas comes to visit me. I tried my hardest to have a great time and not bring the group down. Saturday we hit the beach up then ate dinner at a place called Woodys. We were going to go out, however i just couldnt do it. Then Sunday we went to a mall, ate lunch outside, played some mini golf, watched part of the fireworks (trees were in the way), and then went out to our fav spot Lucky Bs. Monday we went to IHOP for b-fast and took a nap:) We went to the outlets which were so disappointing that words cant describe. Then Lukey left me :( But here are some pics of the awesome weekend!

at the beach :)

dinner outside

minigolf

the girls @ lucky B's

I miss lukey so much and it was extra hard to say good-bye this time for several reasons. But soon enough i will see him again :)

Time to watch the Bacelorette.. I am more excited for the Jake and Vienna part! HAHA

lyss :)

Decisions Decisions...

I am a little over half way down with student teaching, so that means the job hunt is just around the corner. The problem is there were only 4ish openings in my home town and they are already filled. So what does that mean? Do i go back at home and sub and work a part time job? I didn't just bust my butt for 4 years to make crap money and not be teaching!

On the other hand there are a lot more job opening in NC. So do i apply? What if i get an interview, what if i get a job offer? Do i take it? What about luke? We have already been away from each other for 4 yrs doing this long distance thing....I want that to be over. I want to be with him everyday. But do i make the sacrifice? If i find a job here why couldn't he come here? I cant expect him to he told me a year ago he would never move...

So many thoughts and situations going through my head and i dont know what to make of it. My ultimate goal is to go back to Pa and be with family. But finding a teaching job with no experience is going to be hard. Why not live somewhere fun, new, and exciting for a few years. I mean we have our whole lives to live in PA. I just dont want to look back on my life years from now and regret not taking an opportunity when i could. I think 2 young sociable people would have a great time in Raleigh for a few years.

There is more to life than PA!

I just dont know. This is rambling and it probably makes no sense.

lyss.

Last Day :)

Tomorrow is my LAST day in Kindergarten and i am so sad! I am going to miss these kiddies to death! They are so precious and I will forever remember them. This has been a great experience and I am looking forward to 2nd grade!

yup this is def them!

a "serious one"

I have some pretty serious thinking to do in the next couple of days about job hunting. Thoughts to come soon.

RASCAL FLATTS BABY!

This weekend some of the girls and a few boys we met decided to go to the Rascal Flatts concert here in Raleigh! After school we had to hurry up and get ready so that we could tailgate with the boys. It was fun! But soooo HOT! We just had lawn seats, but it was still a blast anyways!

tailgating :)

view from the lawn

sitting on the lawn waiting :)

Jay and Evan

having a blast!

It was so much fun and we will be going back in 2 weeks to see Toby Keith!! I need to learn more of his songs between now and then so i bought his latest CD and we will listen to it on the way to school everyday!

Lyss

Weekend Recap :-]

This weekend was fabulous!

My mama came down to visit! She came to my school and met all my little kiddies and my teacher. A one little girl said "Your a teacher, you cant have a mom". Too cute these kids! Friday night we went to dinner at the Carolina Ale House and called it a night. I was so beat from the week. Saturday we spent the day shopping! I didnt get a thing. So bummed! Then Sat night we went out! Yup with my Mama! She loved it :) haha. Then sunday we went to the beach! It was so nice just laying on the beach :)

This weekend went by way too fast! It was sad to see my mom go home this morning! But i do get to see luke in less than 2 weeks :) Yay

This is my last FULL week at kindergarten. I am so tired today. Im writing some reflections, watching bachelorette and going to bed!

Much Better Day!

Thanks for the support and advice it means a lot! I forgot to mention in my rant that my co-op had my back 100%. She thinks im a great teacher and that K is my thing! She is the one that observes me everyday.. so she would know.. right :)

I realized that everything happens for a reason and bad days make the ok days feel great. If it was not for the rough days.. we wouldnt appreciate the great days :) And this i have realized! Today was a GREAT day.. compared to yesterday of course. Everything happens for a reason and because of this situation i will be a stronger person. In teaching and any profession you have your good days and your bad days.

On to something totally new and random. Yesterday i got addicted to Glee and i have watched 4 episodes already! Just what i need more distractions.

My mama is coming down from PA to visit us in NC! Im so excited to have her here for the weekend! I hope she get in time to meet my kiddies :) We are gonna have a fun relaxing weekend!

One more day till the weekend!!!

1/4 of the way over already!

Week 3 is done and i am 1/4 of the way over. i cant believe how fast this is going. I am constantly busy and somewhat overwhelmed. Just gotta take one day at a time :) This past week i finished up my fish lesson with my kids and they LOVED it! You should have heard some of the names they came up with. These little minds are so creative (and a little out there ;))! This week we start isopods in science and let me tell you bugs are not my thing..ugh. But i gotta pretend because i know they are all gonna love it!

This past weekend was fun. Friday night was interesting. We left our apt about 10 and didnt make it to the bar till 12. A longggg story. haha Saturday we went out again :) Here are some pictures!!

the girls!!

This looks like one of jays ex's haha.

AND this kids also looks like one of her exs
(obviously one we dont like ;))

It was a fun weekend! But very tiring! Sunday i spent the day doing lessons and reflections. I also had the chance to skype with my sis ky:) It was nice seeing her house, her, and my little nephew!!! How cute :)

Time for a busy busy week :(

BEACHY

Hey! I had a great weekend, Going out two nights and having a cookout with some friends :) But today, like i said, we hit up the beach! And was it just perfect! We left here a little before 8 and got to wrightsville beach around 10. (2 hrs not bad) The worst part was finding parking! But we fianlly did and found a great, not crowded, beach :) It felt so great to be somewhere so relaxing after a crazy hetic 2 weeks! I loved laying out, the breeze off the ocean, and the sun tanning of course! I did however get a little red (maybe a lot) ... But hopefully it will quickly turn to tan!!!

Jay and i on the beach!

the view :)

Tonight i am watching the bachelorette and finishing up some work for school this week. Its going to be a great short week. Busyy but short! This also means one week closer to seeing lukey in july!

Lyss :)

I survived week 2 and a full moon :)

Welp week 2 is done! yay.. what a busy and exciting week :) I have been teaching about 4 activities a day and help out the entire day. Thursday the kids were CRAZY wild! So when i got home and "gooled" if it was a full moon... it was! My teacher and I just knew it! The full moon does something to these kids i tell you! Im loving it so far, i am so tired though-- i leave my apt at 730 and dont get home till 5ish. Its a long day when your use to just a few classes a day! But i made it .. 2 weeks down 10 to go :)

We have a long weekend! YAY! no school monday :) So this weekend is going to consist of a lot of sleeping, catching up on work, and yes a trip to the beach on SUNDAY! YUP im thinking 90 and sunny looks perfect to me :) I need the sun right now... im way to white for being in NC for 2 weeks!


Tonight we are going out again.. gotta enjoy it while i still can :)

Have a fab weekend and hopefully pics of the beach to come soon!

Lyss :)

Settled in... finally!

My brain has been going non-stop since day 2 of being in NC! I have barely had time to stop and take it all in. This weekend was much needed after a long first week of 9hr work days (for free). Friday after class (like i said) a group of us went to the NC Fair! It was fun... we had some yummy wine tasting and good food. Then Friday night a group of us went out. (its been nice getting to know the people im down here with). We hit up 3 different bars and just had a chill fun night! Saturday i slept in longgg and hard. It was awesome and much needed! In the afternoon i did a lot of lessons and reflections. Sat night we went out again and hit up the same places :). Guys down here are so different. This one place we went to i promise you EVERY guy had on a polo or a button up. haha. Sunday i spent the entire day moving into the new apt. That was a little crazy. The room was not very clean so we had to clean some and get all unpacked. Feels great for everything to have its place. Sunday night i had so many lessons to write and watch Army Wives :)

The kiddies at school are great and im really enjoying getting to know them :) The kindergartners here are SO smart. I promise you they are basically doing 1st grade work.

Today was a long day. Went to the store got some yummy food for dinner and lunches. Tonight is more planning and reflections. Its never ending... the life as a teacher..we do just as much at home as in the class. So if anyone ever gives me a hard time about how easy it is to teach elementary... i dare them to walk in our shoes for a day.

living room

kitchen

bedroom

a night out

1st day of class

Moving on... BACHELORETTE tonight! Whos excited? I am. I love Alli and i hope she sticks true to herself.

I am trying to keep updated on everyone's blogs :)

Lyss :)

i made it :)

I made it through my first week of school!! yay! I can say that i am soo tired! I love my co-op and kiddies! Everyone down here is sooo nice! People actually smile and say hi to you (yup people you don't even know). I know all of my students names :) [i mix up a few of the boys sometimes--- to me girls are easier to learn]. I am starting to get a hold on the routines of the day!

I miss my babes and family :( But only 11 more weeks to go and i am sure it is going to go by super fast! 5 weeks till he comes to visit me!!

Today after class some of the SRU girls and I went to the NC fair. We did some great wine testing and ate some not good for you fair food ;) We are going to go out tonight!!

We get to move into our apt sunday and i can finally unpack!!! yay!

lyss :)